Hearing test method and apparatus

Abstract

A hearing test method and apparatus are provided for improving a measuring accuracy and a test speed in finding the auditory threshold that is the audibility limit of discriminating a sound. In the method, after outputting a test sound relevant to a selected test frequency and a selected test sound pressure, the apparatus determines whether a user hears the test sound, then the test sound pressure zone is divided into an auditory threshold presence region and an auditory threshold absence region according to the result of determination. Thereafter, the test sound pressure zone is redefined using the auditory threshold presence region and this process of hearing test is repeated using the redefined test sound pressure zone to finally determine an auditory threshold for the selected test frequency.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hearing test method comprising:
 (a) selecting a test frequency among a plurality of frequencies for a hearing test; 
 (b) selecting a test sound pressure in a test sound pressure zone for the selected test frequency; 
 (c) outputting a test sound relevant to the selected test frequency and the selected test sound pressure; 
 (d) dividing the test sound pressure zone into an auditory threshold presence region and an auditory threshold absence region according to a user's response to indicate whether the test sound was heard and redefining the test sound pressure zone to correspond to the auditory threshold presence region; and 
 (e) determining an auditory threshold for the selected test frequency by repeating step (d) using the redefined test sound pressure zone. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the redefining of the test sound pressure zone includes:
 if a user succeeds in hearing the test sound, determining a region below the selected test sound pressure as the auditory threshold presence region; and 
 if a user fails to hear the test sound, determining a region above the selected test sound pressure as the auditory threshold presence region. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the auditory threshold presence region is determined as the auditory threshold when equal to or smaller than a predetermined minimum value, and is used to redefine the test sound pressure zone when greater than the predetermined minimum value. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selected test sound pressure is a middle point in the test sound pressure zone. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test frequency is randomly selected among the plurality of frequencies for the hearing test. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the order of a random selection for the frequencies is predefined. 
     
     
       7. A hearing test method comprising:
 providing a pre-test for defining a test sound pressure zone for each of a plurality of frequencies for a hearing test; and 
 providing a main test for finding an auditory threshold for each of the plurality of frequencies, wherein the main test includes:
 (a) selecting a test frequency among the plurality of frequencies; 
 (b) selecting a test sound pressure in the test sound pressure zone for the selected test frequency; 
 (c) outputting a test sound relevant to the selected test frequency and the selected test sound pressure; 
 (d) dividing the test sound pressure zone into an auditory threshold presence region and an auditory threshold absence region according to a user's response to indicate whether the test sound was heard and redefining the test sound pressure zone to correspond to the auditory threshold presence region; and 
 (e) determining the auditory threshold for the selected test frequency by repeating step (d) using the redefined test sound pressure zone. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the test frequency in the main test is randomly selected among the plurality of frequencies for the hearing test. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the main test further includes selecting other test frequency after the determining of the auditory threshold for the selected test frequency. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the selecting of the test frequency in the main test includes randomly selecting the test frequency among the remaining frequencies. 
     
     
       11. A hearing test apparatus comprising:
 an input unit comprising one or more of a keypad, touch pad, touch screen or microphone; 
 a control unit comprising a processor configured for executing code to perform a pre-test and a main test, said control unit configuration includes a frequency selection unit configured to select a test frequency among a plurality of frequencies for a hearing test, and a sound pressure selection unit configured to select a test sound pressure in a test sound pressure zone for the selected test frequency; 
 a test sound output unit comprising a digital to analog converter configured to receive a test sound signal output from the control unit and configured to convert the test sound signal into an analog signal configured to be output as the test sound relevant to the selected test frequency and the selected test sound pressure, and the test sound output unit includes one or more of a speaker, receiver or earphone configured to receive the analog signal and to output the test sound at the selected test frequency and test sound pressure; 
 wherein the input unit is configured to receive a response to indicate whether a user's response to indicate whether the test sound was heard, and 
 wherein the control unit further includes a test processing unit configured to determine whether a user hears the test sound as indicated from an input received by the input unit, to divide the test sound pressure zone into an auditory threshold presence region and an auditory threshold absence region, to redefine the test sound pressure zone to correspond to the auditory threshold presence region, and to determine an auditory threshold for the selected test frequency through a repeated redefining of the test sound pressure zone. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the test processing unit is further configured to determine a region below the selected test sound pressure as the auditory threshold presence region if a user succeeds in hearing the test sound. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the test processing unit is further configured to determine a region above the selected test sound pressure as the auditory threshold presence region when the input unit indicates a user fails to hear the test sound. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the test processing unit is further configured to determine the auditory threshold presence region as the auditory threshold if the auditory threshold presence region is equal to or smaller than a predetermined minimum value. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the test processing unit is further configured to use the auditory threshold presence region to redefine the test sound pressure zone if the auditory threshold presence region is greater than the predetermined minimum value. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the sound pressure selection unit is further configured to select a predetermined point in the test sound pressure zone as the test sound pressure. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the sound pressure selection unit is further configured to randomly select the test frequency among the plurality of frequencies for the hearing test. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a non-transitory test data storage unit configured to store the auditory threshold.